Symphony no. 5

"The fourth instalment of Martyn Brabbins' Vaughan Williams symphony cycle brings us to the serene Fifth. He follows the trend he has set in his previous recordings in this series of coupling the symphonies with unfamiliar works by VW, often in first recordings ... The compelling reason for buying this CD, however, is the performance of the Fifth Symphony. It's a fine one; indeed, I think it may be the highlight to date of Martyn Brabbins' cycle".

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"Recommended: The Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5 is one of the great "Fifths" from the 20th century ... I was not expecting the performance on this BIS SACD to capture the soul of this work so well, but it does and may well outdo the competition altogether. The seemingly unlikely hero is Michael Collins, a clarinetist who also has been doing much conducting for a decade or more now ... He draws splendid and very spirited playing here from the Philharmonia Orchestra and interprets the score with a fine sense for its lyrical beauty, passionate sweep, and vivid colors. Frankly, I would like to hear more Vaughan Williams from him, perhaps the Sixth? ... A most rewarding disc for the admirers of Vaughan Williams and Finzi".

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"Overall this is a masterly performance from Manze and the players of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic ... Compared to the first two instalments of Manze's Vaughan Williams cycle, parts of this one made me a little disappointed. Those who collect the series can hardly go wrong, however, even if other, individual performances are more satisfying. Onyx's production values are always high and this release lives up to them".

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"This new recording of the Sixth by Andrew Manze is a fine achievement ... Fine though Manze's reading of the Sixth may be, however, his account of the serene Fifth is finer still ... It is, quite simply, one of the best recordings of the Fifth that I can recall hearing - and I've had the good fortune to hear several top-notch versions over the years ... There are two more instalments to come in this VW cycle and I'm eager to hear them. The previous issues have been excellent but this latest pair of performances, especially that of the Fifth, establishes a new peak".

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"The tugging horns and low strings which open Vaughan Williams's meditative, often wistful Symphony No 5 in D (1943) set a mood of harmonic ambiguity that never quite leaves this wartime work. Paired with the contrastingly bellicose No 6 in E minor (1948), it forms the third volume in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's outstanding Vaughan Williams symphonic cycle, conducted by Andrew Manze (Onyx ... Manze's feeling for structure and transparency is matched by the orchestra's glowing intensity and accuracy. This cycle is proving essential listening".

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"Editor's choice: Brabbins's Vaughan Williams symphony cycle continues to go from strength to strength with this impressively cogent, self-effacing Fifth, a reading notable for its unhurried demeanour, clarity of texture and orchestral playing of conspicuous finesse and lustre ... Indeed, there's an enviable wholeness, lofty integrity and sureness of purpose that effortlessly hold the listener ... The coupling could hardly be more intriguing ... A rather special release, this, and emphatically not to be missed".

"Collins's ripe tone is very much undiminished and he shapes Finzi's winding melodies as affectionately as ever ... There's a feeling of pastoral ease without ever getting stuck in a 'cow staring over the fence' rut, encouraging such impassioned string-playing that the movement's emotional climax registers strongly ... Collins has a natural feel for [the symphony's] structure and draws glowing playing from the Philharmonia ... I'd be keen to hear more from Collins the conductor, as long as there are no plans to abandon the clarinet just yet, please".

"Editor's choice: The clarity of the orchestral sound, especially in the pointillistic orchestration of the Fifth, is compelling (the Scherzo in particular, whose tempo Manze gives an extra injection of adrenalin) ... [The Scherzo of the Sixth] this is virtuoso stuff, splendidly handled by conductor and orchestra ... Any lover of Vaughan Williams as a symphonist will find this recording exceptionally rewarding".

"This studio recording maybe just misses the strong characterisation that makes André Previn's recording with the London Symphony orchestra so remarkable ... It's excellent nonetheless".

"Vurdering: Gramophone choice" - "Elder's sense of atmosphere and specific locality win out ... The Scherzo shows the Hallé winds and brass to excellent effect and I was warmed by Elder's well-aimed use of string portamentos in the Cavatina ... I would recommend it unreservedly".